First Meditation
(First Conversation)

"Then light shall rise for you in the
darkness, and the gloom shall become for
you like midday; then the LORD will guide
you always and give you plenty even on the
parched land. He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden, like
a spring whose water never fails." (1)

Tending His Garden

A walled garden, lush and serene,
She tends with a vigilant care:
The plants and shrubs are trim and
clean;
No effort is too small to spare.

The weeds of judgements and grumblings,
And litter of her ego's ploys,
Would choke her space with dirty things
Take over all, and kill her joys.

In place of these, His Word she grows,
With gratitude and joyful praise;
Spaces of silence part the rows,
Which thrive with prayer in heaven's
rays.

The walls of faith protect her space;
The nutrients of hope are feed;
The waters of love trickle grace --
The Kingdom she has grown from seed.

Both day and night, this space she
tends;
On perseverance, she depends.

May we continually dwell in God's presence
as we tend the inner garden He has
entrusted
to us.